John Bel Edwards on Budget & Economy

Blind allegiance to Grover Norquist cripples our economy

Edwards criticized the Governor's very rosy picture of the Louisiana economy saying, "The fact is, our Governor's blind allegiance to Grover Norquist has crippled our state budget and our economy." Edwards cited low oil prices as causing only one
quarter of the current $1.6 billion budget shortfall.

Rep. Edwards outlined key facts about the state of Louisiana's economy that paint a much different picture than the one offered up by the
Governor during his remarks to the legislature. "Under the Jindal administration our unemployment rate is the nation's third highest, our job growth is slower than the rest of the nation's--
1 percent compared to 2.4 percent nationally--and our bond rating moved to "negative" under Bobby Jindal saddling every public body in the state with higher borrowing costs," Edwards said.